GAME THREAD: NHL: BUFFALO (12-12) at ANAHEIM (12-16)

NHL: BUFFALO (12-12) at ANAHEIM (12-16)

<h3>Sabres set to battle defending champs</h3>

<div class="pre">Buffalo (12-11-1) at Anaheim (12-12-4) 10:00 pm EST</div>

ANAHEIM, California (Ticker) - Critical offseason losses havehurt both the Buffalo Sabres and the Anaheim Ducks.

Both teams are hoping to start their climb back to the top ofthe NHL when they square off against each other Wednesday.

After winning the Presidents' Trophy last season, the Sabres areat the bottom of the Northeast Division standings. Buffalo wasdealt a harsh blow in the offseason when centers Chris Druryand Daniel Briere bolted in free agency.


Briere, the club's leading scorer last season, was lured away bythe Philadelphia Flyers, while Drury went to the New YorkRangers. The tandem combined for 69 goals and 164 points lastseason.


Thomas Vanek, the team's top returning scorer, has just sevengoals and 10 assists this season.


The reigning Stanley Cup champions, the Ducks entered thiscampaign with a much different club. Standouts Teemu Selanneand defenseman Scott Neidermayer both continue to contemplateretirement.


As a result, Anaheim sits in a tie for 10th in the WesternConference. The Ducks have lost three of their last four games,getting shutout in two of those contests.

 

NHL: BUFFALO at ANAHEIM

<div class="pre">NHL AT ANAHEIM
STARTING GOALIES: BUF - RYAN MILLER
ANA - JEAN-SEBASTIEN GIGUERE

OFFICIALS: REF - ROB MARTELL, SCOTT ZELKIN
LIN - DEREK AMELL, PAT DAPUZZO</div>

 

NHL: BUFFALO at ANAHEIM

<div class="pre">BUFFALO VS ANAHEIM - SCRATCHES

BUFFALO ANAHEIM

H TALLINDER SHOULDER B MAY HEALTHY
S HNIDY HEALTHY
B SUTHERBY GROIN</div>

 

NHL: BUFFALO at ANAHEIM

<div class="pre">NHL BUFFALO 0
ANAHEIM 0 19:55 LEFT, 1ST PRD</div>

 

NHL: BUFFALO at ANAHEIM

<div class="pre">NHL BUFFALO 1
ANAHEIM 0
1ST PRD: BUF - JOCHEN HECHT 9 (JASON POMINVILLE, TIM CONNOLLY) 4:07</div>

 

NHL: BUFFALO at ANAHEIM

<div class="pre">NHL BUFFALO 1
ANAHEIM 0 15:06 LEFT, 1ST PRD</div>

 

NHL: BUFFALO at ANAHEIM

<div class="pre">NHL BUFFALO 1
ANAHEIM 0 11:48 LEFT, 1ST PRD</div>

 

NHL: BUFFALO at ANAHEIM

<div class="pre">NHL BUFFALO 1
ANAHEIM 0 6:00 LEFT, 1ST PRD</div>

 

NHL: BUFFALO at ANAHEIM

<div class="pre">NHL BUFFALO 1
ANAHEIM 1
1ST PRD: ANA - ANDY MCDONALD 4 (KENT HUSKINS) 15:33</div>

 

NHL: BUFFALO at ANAHEIM

<div class="pre">NHL BUFFALO 1
ANAHEIM 1 3:42 LEFT, 1ST PRD</div>

 

NHL: BUFFALO at ANAHEIM

<div class="pre">NHL END OF THE 1ST 1ST 2ND 3RD TOTAL
--- --- --- -----
BUFFALO 1 1
ANAHEIM 1 1 END OF THE 1ST

GOAL SCORING:

1ST PRD: BUF - JOCHEN HECHT 9 (JASON POMINVILLE, TIM CONNOLLY) 4:07
ANA - ANDY MCDONALD 4 (KENT HUSKINS) 15:33

SHOTS ON GOAL: 1ST 2ND 3RD TOTAL
--- --- --- -----
BUF 8 8
ANA 9 9

GOALIES: BUF - RYAN MILLER
ANA - JEAN-SEBASTIEN GIGUERE</div>

 

NHL: BUFFALO at ANAHEIM

<div class="pre">------------------------
Buffalo 1 --1
Anaheim 1 --1
------------------------

FIRST PERIOD -- Scoring: 1, Buffalo, Jochen Hecht 9 (Jason Pominville,
Tim Connolly), 4:07. 2, Anaheim, Andy Mcdonald 4 (Kent Huskins),
15:33. Penalties: G Parros, Ana (major fighting), 13:07; A Peters,
Buf (major fighting), 13:07.

Shots on goal:
-----------------------------
Buffalo 8 --8
Anaheim 9 --9
-----------------------------

Goalies : Buffalo, Ryan Miller (9 shots, 8 saves). Anaheim,
Jean-Sebastien Giguere (8 shots, 7 saves). Referees: Rob Martell,
Scott Zelkin. Linesmen: Derek Amell, Pat Dapuzzo.</div>

 

NHL: BUFFALO at ANAHEIM

<div class="pre">NHL BUFFALO 1
ANAHEIM 1 19:55 LEFT, 2ND PRD</div>

 

NHL: BUFFALO at ANAHEIM

<div class="pre">NHL BUFFALO 1
ANAHEIM 1 15:40 LEFT, 2ND PRD</div>

 

NHL: BUFFALO at ANAHEIM

<div class="pre">NHL BUFFALO 1
ANAHEIM 1 11:55 LEFT, 2ND PRD</div>

 

NHL: BUFFALO at ANAHEIM

<div class="pre">NHL BUFFALO 1
ANAHEIM 1 10:45 LEFT, 2ND PRD</div>

 

NHL: BUFFALO at ANAHEIM

<div class="pre">NHL BUFFALO 1
ANAHEIM 1 7:38 LEFT, 2ND PRD</div>

 

NHL: BUFFALO at ANAHEIM

<div class="pre">NHL BUFFALO 1
ANAHEIM 2
2ND PRD: ANA - (PP) MATHIEU SCHNEIDER 3 (CHRIS PRONGER, RYAN GETZLAF)
12:22</div>

 

NHL: BUFFALO at ANAHEIM

<div class="pre">NHL BUFFALO 1
ANAHEIM 2 6:24 LEFT, 2ND PRD</div>

 

NHL: BUFFALO at ANAHEIM

<div class="pre">NHL BUFFALO 1
ANAHEIM 3
2ND PRD: ANA - TODD BERTUZZI 2 (ANDY MCDONALD) 18:20</div>